Written by Tim Gaughan, Urban Edge. Published August 4, 2026.
Our fences come standard on pressure-treated wood posts. Steel posts are an upgrade: they don't rot, so they outlast wood posts in Portland's wet soil, where wood posts rot at the ground line first. A wood fence on steel posts keeps its cedar look while the part that usually fails is made of galvanized steel.
Why posts fail first
Fence boards dry out between storms. Posts don't: they sit in soil that stays wet from October to May. Pressure-treated wood resists rot for a while, but the ground line, where air, water and wood meet, is where it finally goes soft. When enough posts give out, the fence leans in the first big wind.
The three choices
Pressure-treated wood (4x4). Our standard post, and the usual fence post. Lowest cost, easy to work with, and matches the wood above. It still rots at the ground over time, and treated wood can twist and check as it dries.
PostMaster steel posts. Galvanized steel posts made to go behind a wood fence. The rails fasten to the post, and the fence boards hide it, so from either side it looks like a normal wood fence. Our cedar fences can be built on them.
Square galvanized steel posts. Square steel tube posts, galvanized against rust. They can be left showing as a clean, modern detail, often in black, like the black steel posts on our hot tub privacy enclosure.
Side by side
| Pressure-treated wood | PostMaster steel | Square galvanized steel |
|---|
| Rot | Rots at the ground line over time | Doesn't rot | Doesn't rot |
|---|
| Look | Wood post shows | Hidden behind the boards | Steel shows; a clean modern look |
|---|
| Straightness | Can twist and check | Stays straight | Stays straight |
|---|
| Up-front cost | Lowest | Higher | Higher |
|---|
| Best for | Budget fences | A classic wood fence that lasts | Modern fences and privacy screens |
|---|
How we set them
Whatever the post, we set fence posts 2 feet deep in concrete, with the top sloped so water runs away from the post.
Gates need the strongest posts
A gate post carries the gate's weight and the swing every day. Sagging gates are usually a post problem.
Which to choose
Pressure-treated wood posts are our standard, and a well-set wood post makes a good fence. Any fence we build can be upgraded to steel posts. If you plan to stay in the house, steel is the better long-term buy: the posts are what usually end a fence's life. Pair them with the 3/4-inch cedar board upgrade and the whole fence is built to last.
Our work is covered by a 2-year workmanship warranty, in writing.
Get a free estimate or call Tim, (503) 597-8520.